Nourishing connections and bodies

Every third Sunday, Pragya Ojha and members of the community prepare an elaborate vegetarian dinner at Springwood Community Centre.

Their usual repertoire includes the likes of chickpea and mixed vegetable curries and yellow lentil dahl. To accompany the mains, they prepare basmati rice, Indian-style chutney, herbal teas and halwa, an indulgent and chewy dessert made with semolina and ghee.

And the entire meal is free.

Pragya, a Springwood-based real estate agent at LJ Hooker Property Partners, was inspired to create her own community dinner after clients kept chasing her for easy Indian recipes.

‘They were such a big hit that people looked forward to my recipes more than my property reports,’ she says.

‘The Springwood community has been incredibly supportive, and I’ve always believed in giving back to society.

‘These dinners are open to absolutely everyone.’

Each meal, which is prepared onsite at the community centre, is a labour of love for Pragya and a group of dedicated volunteers.

As the numbers of diners grew, Pragya reached out to Dada Krisnapremananda and Dada Devadatta from Seva Dharma Mission. The Springwood Community Centre also embraced the idea of free community dinners and helped promote the initiative through their channels.

The trio, along with volunteers from the centre, spend hours chopping and preparing food for 50 to 60 diners each month.

At Pragya’s insistence, there is no room in the kitchen for preservatives or artificial colours.

Each dish is painstakingly prepared with fresh produce, homemade broths, and a medley of healthy spices like turmeric and cumin.

Diners are also welcome in the kitchen if they’re interested in learning how to cook healthy vegetarian meals.

‘We aim to promote healthy eating habits because many are unfamiliar with preparing nutritious Indian-style vegetarian cuisine,’ Pragya says.

‘The food we prepare is good for the environment, body and soul.’

The community dinner also provides more than a warm and nourishing meal, as there is free produce to take home from local food banks for those in need.

‘No matter how tired I am from a stressful week in the real estate industry, these dinners are a source of relaxation,’ Pragya says.

‘People from all walks of life come together, sharing a healthy meal made with love and enjoy each other’s company.

‘It is so rewarding that clients recognise me as the person behind these free dinners in Springwood, because I have so much passion for both cooking and selling homes. It’s more rewarding than any financial gain.’

The dinner is held every third Sunday of the month at 5 pm – to RSVP or volunteer, please call Dada on 0422 823 341.